Kazuo Mori
Director · Died June 29, 1989, aged 78 · Matsuyama, Japan
Kazuo Mori, also known as Issei Mori, got his start as a jidai-geki director in silent films of the 1930s. In postwar years he became a leading director at Daiei, working regularly with the studio's familiar stars like Shintaro Katsu and Raizo Ichikawa. In the 1960s and '70s, Mori established himself alongside Kenji Misumi as one of the most dependable names in chambara franchise series, directing some of the best installments of Zatoichi, Kyoshiro Nemuri and Shinobi No Mono. Mori's work is marked by clear, intelligent storytelling and innovative camera techniques.
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Biography from TMDB.
- January 15, 1911
- June 29, 1989 (aged 78)
- Matsuyama, Japan
- Director
- 5 on MovieCove · 128 credits in all
What are Kazuo Mori's films like?
Across their 5 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 4
Light 1 · Serious 2 · Dark 1
Grounded 2 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0
Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 2
Steady 1 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0
Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0
Slow burn 0 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0
Casual 1 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 0 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 1
Resolved 3 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- Bittersweet3
- Tragic1
- Ambiguous1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Kazuo Mori's films?
As of October 24, 2026, all 5 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (3).
Subscription and free streaming for Kazuo Mori's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
128 credits, 5 with a MovieCove page.
Deadly Swords in Search of Hidden Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
The Bored Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Kenkaku Shōbai: Tsujigiri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Messengers to Satsuma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
The King and His Vassal 2 - The Great Riot of Edo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
The King and His Vassal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
Keishi-K (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Yokomizo Seishi Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
Please Hire Me! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Priest of Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Zatoichi Monogatari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Hashū Hankachō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Mute Samurai(1973)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
Zatoichi at Large(1972)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Kogarashi Monjiro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Wakaki hi no kōdōkan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
The Killer's Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Easy Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Mission: Iron Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 13: The Full Moon Swordsman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
The Curse of the Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Kanto Woman Infamy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Kanto Onna Gokudo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
出獄四十八時間 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Secret Report From A House Of Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
The Saga of Tanegashima (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Bad Reputation: The Notorious Men and Their Specialty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
A Killer's Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Young Boss, Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
A Certain Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Spy on the Masked Car (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Wrath of Daimajin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
Assignment Cloud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
The Front Line Showdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
ほんだら捕物帖 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
Shinobi no mono 7: Mist Saizo Strikes Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
ほんだら剣法 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Shinobi No Mono 6: The Last Iga Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Rampaging Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
駿河遊侠伝 度胸がらす (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
The Gambling Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Bad Reputation: The Big Drum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Suruga Yūkyōden: Gambling Hall Robbery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
The Man Disappears Yesterday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Shinobi no Mono 3: Resurrection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
Bad Reputation: The Notorious Harbor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
The Confusing Journey of Jirocho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
Bad Reputation: Imposter's Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
Yôki na tono-sama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
170 Leagues to Edo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
The Notorious Man's Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Third Generation's Loyalty Offering (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Keshin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
A Wife Confesses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
The Radiant Prince (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Song of Sado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
The Old Temple Well (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Satan's Sword III: The Final Chapter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Three Young Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Lord Tadanao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Her Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
The Blind Menace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Jirocho Fuji 2: The Chivalrous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Mission Accomplished (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Samurai Vendetta(1959)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Jirocho Fuji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
Lord Nobunaga's Early Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
Peony on the Skin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
The Swishing Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)
The 7th Secret Agent to Edo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)
Akado Suzunosuke vs. the Birdman with 3 Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)
Advance Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Inazuma Kaidō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Mangorō Tengu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Yataro’s Travel Hat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Love of the Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Fighting Fire Fighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
Case Files of Zenigata Heiji: The Human-Skin Spider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
Headquarters of Crime Detection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
Marathon Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
I Was Tokichiro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Nagasaki no yoru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Tôjûrô no koi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
The Birth of Judo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Hanazakari otoko ichidai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Farewell Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Midori no nakama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)
Shirazu no Yatarō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)
Yoidore nitōryū (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)
Koina no Ginpei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Kiniro no ōkami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
The Tattoo Murder Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
Coming Up of Kodokan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
Picture Book of Sarutobi Sasuke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Karakuri yashiki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
Coward at Ganryu Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)
New Journey of Yaji and Kita (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Jigoku no mon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)
Vendetta of a Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)
Duel at Omagatsuji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
Hana aru dotō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
Zenigata Heiji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
Judge of the Ashuras (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
Ship of Outlaws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
Minami no bara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
Confessions of a Gynecologist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
I Am Being Targeted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
Tsuki no shussen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
My Name Is Mistress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
A Bullet Hole Underground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
Guren bosatsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
Black Cloud Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)
Nerawareta onna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)
Wildcat Lady or Mountain Cat Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)
Oshidori gasa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)
Tree of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)
Ryūkoden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)
Female Police Officer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)
Yari-odori gojūsantsugi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
Tebukuro o nugasu otoko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
Sandai no sakazuki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
Ōsaka chōnin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
Masujiro Omura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
夫婦太鼓 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
A Color Print of Edo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
Monster Cat Akabe Daimyojin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Career shape
A full career of 128 titles from 1938 to 1983.
Film career
- 1961Screen debut· A Wife Confesses
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.
How do Kazuo Mori's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 72nd percentile, the median of all 4; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 72nd percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up2
- 50th to 74th3
Shape of the crowd
None of their 5 titles divides audiences: 5 are Crowd Pleasers.
- Crowd Pleaser5
Reviewers score the atmosphere 69/100 and the pacing 63/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does Kazuo Mori work with?
People who share at least 2 of Kazuo Mori's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Shintarō Katsu shares the most, 5.
Writers
- Kan ShimozawaShared titles: Zatoichi at Large (1972), Zatoichi and the Doomed Man (1965), The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962)See all 3 shared titles with Kan Shimozawa
Actors
- Shintarō KatsuShared titles: Mute Samurai (1973), Zatoichi at Large (1972), Zatoichi and the Doomed Man (1965), The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962), Samurai Vendetta (1959)See all 5 shared titles with Shintarō Katsu
- Tomisaburō WakayamaShared titles: Mute Samurai (1973), The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962)See all 2 shared titles with Tomisaburō Wakayama
- Ryûzô ShimadaShared titles: Zatoichi and the Doomed Man (1965), Samurai Vendetta (1959)See all 2 shared titles with Ryûzô Shimada
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Ichirō SaitōShared titles: The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962), Samurai Vendetta (1959)See all 2 shared titles with Ichirō Saitō
- Kôji TaniguchiShared titles: The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962), Samurai Vendetta (1959)See all 2 shared titles with Kôji Taniguchi
- Shôzô HondaShared titles: The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962), Samurai Vendetta (1959)See all 2 shared titles with Shôzô Honda